Spoilsport

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The catamaran Spoilsport at sea, SPOILSPORT CAIRNS lettering on her transom

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30 m · 28 guests · 14 cabins · 12 crew members

TL

Spoilsport is a Mike Ball Dive Expeditions catamaran, purpose-built for diving in 1989 and working out of Cairns on the outer Great Barrier Reef and in the Coral Sea. Two hulls, 30 metres long and 10.5 metres across, give her a steadiness no monohull can match — the operator’s main selling point, and the reason weather rarely wrecks the programme. A range of 1,930 km lets her reach reefs more than a day’s steaming from Cairns.

No more than 28 guests are carried by a crew of twelve: master, trip director, engineer, first mate, chef, host, photo/video pro, three divemasters and two general hands. There are fourteen cabins, all on the same deck next to the dive deck, in four grades — from budget cabins with bunk beds and shared facilities to premium cabins with a double or queen bed, an ensuite and an ocean view.

Dive counts run from 12 to 40 depending on trip length: up to 12 over three nights, up to 26 over a week, up to 40 on the ten-night expedition. The dive deck is huge, with three large camera tables and dedicated camera rinse tanks, entry and exit platforms and a freshwater shower on the way out. Most diving is straight off the vessel while moored over the site; two large RIBs handle drift and night dives. Bottom time is not rationed: typically three sites a day, and you can make one dive at each or up to five.

The routes cover three different regions. The Coral Sea means Osprey, Bougainville and Holmes: sheer walls dropping hundreds of metres, visibility up to 40 metres and a controlled shark attraction dive at North Horn, where ten to thirty grey reef and whitetip reef sharks gather. The Ribbon Reefs along the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef mean Cod Hole with its diver-sized potato cod, Steve’s Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle and vast coral gardens. The far expeditions reach Ashmore and Boot Reef on the sea border with Papua New Guinea, and Raine Island, the world’s largest green turtle rookery.

Dwarf minke whales are a story of their own. The Great Barrier Reef is the only place in the world where swimming with the minkes that arrive each winter is permitted, and Mike Ball is one of a handful of licensed operators. The window is narrow — June and July, most often at Ribbon Reef No. 10. An average encounter is two or three whales for about ninety minutes; the operator’s record is 28 whales and a ten-hour encounter. A James Cook University researcher has sailed on these trips since 1996.

Entry requirements are gentle: an open water certification and a six-point medical declaration. A yes to any question about illness, injury or medication calls for a doctor’s dive clearance less than twelve months old — without it you are limited to two supervised dives a day. Anyone with fewer than 15 logged dives, or whose last dive was over a year ago, gets a complimentary orientation dive. The crew speaks English only, and the operator says plainly that without conversational English you will have to sit some dives out: briefings are not replaced by interpreters or apps.

The operator prices in Australian dollars and sells berths in twin-share cabins; premium cabins are sold by the whole cabin only. Discounts: 10% for a non-diver, 25% for a non-diving child aged 8 to 15 (10% in minke season). Sole occupancy costs the berth price plus 80%.

No mark-up

You pay the rate the operator publishes. The only thing added on top is the actual payment processing cost — no fee of ours.

We run the booking

Correspondence with the operator, holding your places, the contract, confirmation and all paperwork sit on our side. Nothing for you to arrange yourself.

Pay by card

We send you a Stripe invoice — pay by card, in your own currency, from anywhere in the world. The transfer to the operator is handled on our side.

Support in your language

We help you pick the cabin and dates, answer questions on the route and gear, and stay reachable until you are home — in English, in your time zone.

We quote the exact amount when confirming the booking: it covers the operator's rate plus the actual payment processing cost. No hidden charges.

Yacht Specifications

Length

30 m

Beam

10.5 m

Year Built

1989

Capacity

28 guests

Cabins

14

Crew

12 members

Speed

12 knots

Engine

2 main diesels, 2 generators, 2 compressors

Refit

2014

Bathrooms

12 ensuite + shared shower and toilet

Tender

2 large RIBs

Water capacity

8000 l

Fuel capacity

12,000 l

Freshwater maker

yes

On Board

Air conditioning in every cabin and all public areas
Ensuite bathroom in 12 of the 14 cabins
Hot fresh water in the showers
Lounge and bar with panoramic windows
Dining room with table service
Alfresco deck for eating outdoors
Large sun deck with loungers and partial shade
Observation deck
Two large screen TVs, music and DVD
Daily cabin service
Library — take a book, leave a book
240V and 110V charging stations
Three camera tables with dedicated camera rinse tanks
Ocean-view cabins in the Premium and Standard grades
No smoking or vaping indoors, designated area on the top deck
Satellite Wi-Fi on board for a fee
Purpose-built for diving
Suitable for snorkellers and non-divers

Diving on board

Up to 12 dives over 3 nights, 26 over a week, 40 on the ten-night expedition
Night dives on every standard itinerary
Usually three dive sites a day, with no limit on bottom time
Diving off the vessel at anchor, RIBs for drift and night dives
Huge dive deck, three camera tables, dedicated camera rinse tanks
Entry by platform or ladder, freshwater shower on exit
42 cylinders on board, all air and nitrox compatible
EAN32 nitrox for a fee, a nitrox computer is required
Solo diving with certification, the course can be taken on board
Rebreather service
DIN and yoke compatible valves throughout
15 l steel cylinders and 2 l pony bottles for hire
Complimentary orientation dive for newer divers and those out of practice
A guided group dive each morning and afternoon
A guide for a single dive or a private guide for the whole trip, for a fee
Reef ecology programme and dive computer workshop included
PADI courses on board — Advanced, Deep, Nitrox, Self-Reliant, underwater photography

Maximum recommended depth is 40 m; deeper dives are only for suitably qualified technical divers by prior arrangement, and decompression diving is not permitted on standard itineraries. Divers who have not dived for 5 years are advised to take a refresher; after 10 years recertification or a refresher plus two logged ocean dives is required. Freediving is not permitted on board. The crew speaks English only: without conversational English you will have to sit some dives out. The flights between Lizard Island and Cairns stay at 200–300 m and are safe straight after diving, but the operator recommends a 24-hour interval before a commercial flight.

Dining

Three chef-prepared meals a day
Complimentary glass of wine or a soft drink with dinner
Morning and afternoon tea between meals
Tea, coffee, fruit and biscuits around the clock
Buffet service and set dinners
Vegetarian and vegan options
Western and local cuisine
Barbecue on the farewell night
Bar with beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks

Tell reservations about any dietary requirements when you book. Do not bring your own alcohol — it is surrendered to the bar and sold back at bar list prices. Your own non-perishable snacks are welcome, but there is no guest fridge or cooking access. Alcohol only after the last dive of the day, with a minimum eight-hour interval before the next dive.

Navigation and safety

Radar
Two GPS receivers
Two chart plotters
Echo sounder
HF and VHF radios
Radio contact with emergency services
Nautilus Lifeline GPS for every diver, free of charge
SMB and whistle for every diver, free of charge
AMSA 1B survey for 29 passengers

Cabins

· 4 cabins

Premium

Beds: Double bed (cabins 3 and 4) or queen bed (cabins 9 and 10)

The four largest cabins on the vessel. Forward cabins 3 and 4 have a 184 × 153 cm double bed, aft cabins 9 and 10 a 203 × 153 cm queen. Each has its own ensuite with shower and a window onto the sea. One bed for two people: you have to be comfortable sharing it with your cabin mate. The operator sells premium cabins by the whole cabin, not by the berth.

Ensuite bathroom with shower Ocean view Air conditioning with individual control Daily service Up to 2 guests Sold by the whole cabin only

· 4 cabins

Standard

Beds: Two single beds

Cabins 5, 6, 7 and 8 have two separate single beds (200 × 89 and 196 × 89 cm), an ensuite and a panoramic window. Desk, mirror and air conditioning with individual control. A solo guest may be paired with another traveller; same-sex sharing is not guaranteed.

Ensuite bathroom with shower Panoramic ocean-view window Two single beds Air conditioning with individual control Daily service Solo traveller friendly

· 4 cabins

Club

Beds: Bunk beds

Cabins 11, 12, 13 and 14 sit amidships: bunk beds (190 × 89 cm), an ensuite and no window. The operator says plainly that the bathroom is very small. Chest of drawers, shelves and air conditioning with individual control. A solo guest may be paired with another traveller; same-sex sharing is not guaranteed.

Ensuite bathroom with shower Bunk beds Air conditioning with individual control Daily service Solo traveller friendly No window

· 2 cabins

Budget

Beds: Bunk beds

Cabins 1 and 2 in the bow are the most affordable berths on the vessel. Bunk beds (190 × 89 cm), no window, and a shower and toilet shared separately from the cabin. Everything else is the same: air conditioning with individual control, daily service, chest of drawers. A solo guest may be paired with another traveller; same-sex sharing is not guaranteed.

Shared shower and toilet Bunk beds Air conditioning with individual control Daily service Solo traveller friendly No window

Schedule & Pricing

Fly Dive Cod Hole — 3 nights

A short trip to the Ribbon Reefs north of Cooktown, with a low-level scenic flight between Cairns and Lizard Island — 250 km over reef and rainforest. Up to 12 dives: Cod Hole with its potato cod, Lighthouse Bommie, Gotham City, Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom and Steve's Bommie. There is time ashore on Lizard Island. Suitable for all experience levels, and the sites work for snorkellers too. Luggage on the flight is strictly capped at 28 kg, soft bags only.

December 2026
2 departures
January 2027
3 departures

Fly Dive Coral Sea — 4 nights

The best of the Coral Sea: Osprey Reef, declared a shark sanctuary, and Bougainville Reef with the Dungeons & Dragons maze of caves. Up to 14 dives, including two or three shark attraction dives at North Horn, sheer walls and visibility up to 40 metres. The flight between Lizard Island and Cairns is included. Not suitable for snorkellers.

December 2026
2 departures
January 2027
3 departures

Coral Sea & Cod Hole — 5 nights

Five nights and up to 18 dives: the Coral Sea (Osprey, Bougainville) plus the Ribbon Reefs with Cod Hole, Pixie Pinnacle and Steve's Bommie. This itinerary carries a shark feed that can draw up to 40 sharks. Out of and back to Cairns, no flights.

December 2026
1 departure
March 2027
1 departure

Great Barrier Reef & Ribbon Reefs — 5 nights

Five nights on the Ribbon Reefs alone, along the edge of the continental shelf: Cod Hole, Lighthouse Bommie, Gotham City, Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom, Cracker Jack, Flare Point, Summer Bay and Steve's Bommie. Up to 18 dives. Suitable for all experience levels. The operator schedules this itinerary in May only.

April 2027
1 departure
May 2027
3 departures

Coral Sea Safari — 7 nights

The flagship week, a 450-mile run that joins the Fly Dive Coral Sea and Fly Dive Cod Hole itineraries into one trip. Up to 26 dives across two contrasting ecosystems — the shark-charged walls of the Coral Sea and the coral gardens of the Ribbon Reefs. Mid-trip the vessel moors off Lizard Island and the crew walks you through the ruins of Mrs Watson's cottage and up Chinaman's Ridge. Days four, five and six suit snorkellers.

December 2026
1 departure
January 2027
3 departures

Coral Sea Exploratory — 7 nights

450 miles across three Coral Sea atolls — Holmes, Bougainville and Osprey — with a run onto the Ribbon Reefs. Up to 28 dives, two or three shark attraction dives at North Horn, Nonki Bommie under soft corals, the Dungeons & Dragons labyrinth and Cod Hole. The most packed of the week-long itineraries; the most reliable Coral Sea weather runs September to January.

December 2026
1 departure
April 2027
1 departure

Dwarf minke whales — 3, 4 and 7 nights

The only place in the world where swimming with dwarf minke whales is permitted, and a narrow window: June and July. The whales most often turn up at Ribbon Reef No. 10, where the operator's best sites are. An average encounter is two or three whales for about ninety minutes; the record is 28 whales over ten hours. Up to 10 dives over three nights, 12 over four and 22 over a week, night dives included — the count can be lower because the itinerary follows the whales. A James Cook University researcher sails on every minke trip. The non-diver discount is smaller than usual in this season.

June 2027
8 departures
July 2027
5 departures

Northern Exposure — 7 nights

A one-way expedition between Cairns and Horn Island in the Torres Strait: northbound in November, southbound in December. Up to 27 dives on rarely visited reefs — Cod Hole, the walls of Tijou and Cat Reefs, Great Detached Reef, and Raine Island, the world's largest green turtle rookery, which draws 40,000 to 100,000 turtles a season. The flight to or from Horn Island is arranged by you and is not included. No courses run on this itinerary.

November 2027
1 departure
December 2027
1 departure

Ashmore Exploratory — 7 nights

The furthest the vessel goes: Ashmore and Boot Reef on the sea border with Papua New Guinea, nearly 300 km east of Thursday Island. Up to 27 dives on walls almost nobody has seen, plus Great Detached Reef and Raine Island with its turtle rookery (October to December). The flight to Horn Island is not included.

November 2027
2 departures

Coral Sea Odyssey — 10 nights

The longest trip of the year, once a season in March, from Townsville to Cairns. Up to 40 dives: the SS Yongala, sunk in 1911 and lying in 14–28 m, the MOUA underwater museum, Wheeler Reef, the walls of Flinders Reef with drops beyond 300 m and visibility over 40, then Holmes, Bougainville, Osprey with the North Horn shark dive, and the Ribbon Reefs with Cod Hole.

March 2027
1 departure

Prices and availability can change. Get in touch and we'll confirm current dates and pricing.

Included in Price

Daily serviced, air-conditioned cabin accommodation
All meals and snacks
A glass of wine or a soft drink with dinner
Tea, coffee, fruit and biscuits around the clock
Tanks, air fills and weight belt
Nautilus Lifeline GPS, SMB and whistle
Orientation dive where required
Reef ecology programme with a marine biologist
Dive computer workshop
Scenic flight to or from Lizard Island (Fly Dive itineraries)
Guided walk on Lizard Island with its history (Coral Sea Safari)
Transfer after the trip to the office, the airport or an inner-city Cairns hotel
Bed linen

Not Included

Flights to and from Cairns
Accommodation in Cairns before and after the trip
Transfer to the operator's office before departure — you make your own way
Insurance covering diving and medical evacuation
A dive deck towel and a refillable water bottle — bring your own
Equipment hire and nitrox
Alcohol and bar or ship's shop purchases
Onboard Wi-Fi
Courses and photo services
A doctor's fit-to-dive clearance where one is required
The flight to Horn Island on the Ashmore and Northern Exposure expeditions

Required extras

Marine park Environmental Management Charge (EMC) — added to your onboard account — AUD 8.50 per day, capped at 3 days
Fuel levy — the operator announced AUD 20 per night from May 2026, but its current fee table shows a zero rate and says the levy is reviewed regularly; confirm when booking — currently AUD 0

Optional extras

Sole occupancy of a cabin — berth price + 80%
EAN32 nitrox — AUD 30 per day
Full equipment hire — AUD 50 per day
Regulator with octopus and gauges — AUD 20 per day
BCD — AUD 15 per day
Dive computer — AUD 15 per day
Torch — AUD 15 per day
5 mm wetsuit — AUD 10 per day
Snorkel gear — AUD 10 per day
15 l steel cylinder or 2 l pony bottle with regulator — AUD 25 per day
Guide for a single dive — AUD 50 per person, AUD 30 in a group of 2–3
Private dive guide for the whole trip — AUD 350 per day plus the guide's berth
PADI Advanced, Deep, Nitrox and Self-Reliant courses — AUD 310
PADI Underwater Photography and Underwater Naturalist courses — AUD 260
Discover Scuba dive — AUD 50 per dive
Private shark shoot (Coral Sea itineraries only) — AUD 75
Underwater camera hire, Canon GX7 MkII or Olympus TG5 — AUD 40 per day
Personalised photo set — AUD 100
Personalised video (up to 4 people) — AUD 250
Yongala mooring (itineraries visiting the Yongala) — AUD 13.55 per day
Donation to the dwarf minke whale research project — voluntary — AUD 15 per day
Crew tips — at your discretion

Extras are shown per person and are paid on board.

Spoilsport

from 4802 AUD / 7 nights

Estimated wait time — 24 hours

Spoilsport

from 4802 AUD

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